Don Nickles Calls for New Senate Leadership Election to Challenge Lott

Fox News | 12-15-02

[rightwing2]

Fox News just reported that ABC reported that Nickles has called for a new Senate leadership challenge to Trent Lott!

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Agreed. If I were W, I would say to Lott:


"You'll quit if you're pushed out as leader? Do you understand that your legacy would then be one not only of harming the GOP with your original comments, but also of undermining the GOP Senate majority?

"Is that really how you want to be remembered, as the man who did the most to harm the Republican party since Richard Nixon? Why can't you have the grace and decency of others like Gingrich and Livingston?"

[cloud8]

"Lott is behind the scenes in desperation mode."

Yes indeedy. Good for Condi and Powell, too. It's time for a deathwatch. I give Lott till Wednesday.

[rightwing2]

I hate the hypocricy of the left, who can coddle Robert "Sheets" Byrd, but attack Lott. That being said.... Go Nichols!!!! I would love this to blow up in the Dem's face by getting a REAL Republican Majority Leader.

Exactly. The RATS are playing with fire by calling for Lott's resignation. If Nickles replaces him as I hope he does, the RATS will be facing a much tougher Majority Leader who is going to play hardball with them on the Senate reorganizing resolution and will probably beat them at their own game.

[John Lenin]

Zell Miller is not going anywhere. He had his chance a long time ago. I would take it Miller has too much character to switch.

[TomGuy]

His bluff? Not very effective:


It could be significant, depending on the what's and when's.

The actually MS statute regarding this was posted earlier:

Mississippi Statutes on interim US Senators.

It would be the driving force on the significance or insignificance of a Lott threat/bluff.

[Asclepius]

Lott has stated he would quit the Senate if pushed from Senate leader.

I say call his bluff.

I concur. Better to lose the senate again than sell our souls to this moron.

[BuddhaBoy]

Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!

I hate to remind everyone, but I told you. LOL

[AmericaUnited]

Lott has stated he would quit the Senate if pushed from Senate leader.

Right with this statement Lott shows what a self-concerned scumbag he is. Jeffords at least did have "some" issues about policies to tip the balance. Lott would none except to extract petty revenge.

[John Lenin]

he RATS will be facing a much tougher Majority Leader who is going to play hardball with them on the Senate

And if Lott retires and McCain switches to Independant than what ? Than we have two more years of Dashle. Brilliant move neo-cons.

[Enterprise]

Lott's greatest supporters will likely be RAT Senators. They too, don't want a strong Republican leader. Better the devil you know type scenario. Their worst nightmare would be someone with a clean FBI file.

[The Iguana]

Best of luck to Nickles.

[kcvl]

And I would say "KISS MY REAR" President Bush. Some people's votes are more important to you than standing up for what is right instead of letting them use race as an issue AGAIN like they did with Judge Pickering and you didn't defend him either.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Exactly right. Lott should be given a secretary's chair and a TV table and allowed to sit in the back row of the senate.

[kcvl]

Worse than that...President Hillary Clinton! It worked like a charm.

[alnick]

In an indication of White House wariness about getting squarely behind Lott, sources said Lott sought statements of support last week from national security adviser Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of State Colin L. Powell but was rebuffed. Both are African American. Some White House officials said it was clumsy of Lott to ask.

Lott is looking pathetic. You know, sometimes you just have to take your lumps.

[rightwing2]

On Fox News Sunday, they mentioned a statement put out by Lott's office in response to Nickle's announcement. They called Nickles call for new elections something like "blatant opportunism." The gloves are off! May the better man (who in my mind would be pretty much any GOP Senator other than Lott) win!

The exact quote by Lott's office was that Nickles statement "is a cynical exercise in opportunism." In other words, Trent Lott is scared to death of a Nickles challenge to his leadership because he knows he will probably lose. In fact, Nickles statement is what we would expect from a principled conservative leader who has the best interests of the GOP at heart. If Lott did as well he would resign. Now, the real risk is this--too many challengers to Lott where the anti-Lott vote is divided two or three ways allowing Lott to eke out a narrow victory with as few as 18 votes. That said, I still don't think he reaches that threshold in the event of a three way. Without the President's support, Lott is toast.

[laconic]

JZ, the fact that Lott has reportedly said he will quit the Senate if he loses the leadership battle tells us he was never a leader to begin with, instead, he was a self-serving, perk-loving, go along and get along Majority/Minority Leader who does not do well by the party he pretends to "lead".

[rightwing2]

The real question is will Lott stay or will he retire.

Lott's successor needs to offer him the Chairmanship of the Commerce Commitee where Lott is #2 in seniority to John McCain to give him a graceful exit otherwise a Lott resignation remains a possibility.

[Timeout]

Zell Miller is not going anywhere. He had his chance a long time ago.

Yeah. If ole Zell switched to Republican, I can just hear the news coverage now: "The former AIDE TO GOV. LESTER MADDOX, who fought to keep black children from attending white schools, now says he would feel more comfortable in the Republican caucus".

I think the maddest I got at Lott was when he tried to shore himself up by quoting Sen. Jeffords' support. Well, DUH!, Trent. Of course, Jeffords would love for you to stay majority leader so the Dims could take back the Senate in '04.